Plastic shoe display form



Sept. 16,1952 s. NETTLER ETAL I 2,610,340

PLASTIC SHOE DISPLAY FORM Filed Jan. 26, 1951 2 SHEETS -SHEET 1 INVENTORATTORNEYS,

Sept. 16, 1952 ,s. NETTLER ETAL 2,610,340

PLASTIC SHOE DI'YSPLAY FORM Filed Jan. 26, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 1NVENTORS'.

ATTORNEYS,

. 3 show windows. These heat conditions have a tendency to weaken orloosen the cemented or bonded joint and thus make separation thereofeasier. Another disadvantage of the two piece or multiple-part plasticshoe form is the relatively high cost of production resulting from thenecessity of separately molding the parts, then assembling the parts andcementing or bonding them together into the completed form, and finallyperforming a necessary finishing operation 4 f Fig. 5 is a verticallongitudinal section taken as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken as on the 7 88 of Fig. 3.

along the area of the seam or joint to minimize as much as possible thevisibility of the joint or scam in the completed form.

It is a primary object of our present invention to overcome andsubstantially eliminate the foregoing difliculties and disadvantagesinherent in the multiple-piece type of plastic shoe display form inwhich the parts of the form are ce-' merited or bonded together,byproviding a design and construction of one-piece, seamless,

thin-walled, hollow and resilient plastic shoe form. 1

Another object is to provide such acne-piece plastic shoe form which maybe produced by injection molding from a suitable thermoplastic material.

Another object is to provide such a shoe form which can be formed oftransparent plastic material, eitherclear or colored, for effective shoedisplay, and which if desired may be readily illuminated due to itsone-piece, seamless character to thereby more effectively display a shoeinwhich mounted. r

A further object is to provide a design and construction of such aplastic shoe form in which the generally inwardly turned'fiangesurrounding the bottom opening of the form may have a minimum width tomaintain a maximum width of opening without substantially lessening thestrength structurally or the inherent resiliency of the form. r

A further object is to provide such form with a closed top integral withthe walls of the form and without mold marks of any kind on the outer,top surface thereof. r

Another object is to provide such a one-piece seamless plastic shoe formof a design and construction by which a simple form of expansion springmember may be readily inserted and seated in and around the forwardportion of the form in position housed and releasably engaged Within theadjacent portion of the flange surrounding the bottom opening in theform, for the purpose of restoring the form to its normal non-compressedshape after removal from compressed position in a shoe.

With theforegoing and various other objects, features and results inview, which others will be readily apparent from the followingdescription' and explanation, our invention consists in certain novelfeatures in design and construction and in combinations of parts andelements, all as will be more fully referred to and specifiedhereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar referencecharacters refer to corresponding parts and elements throughout thefigures thereof;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a right foot shoe form of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the form of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the form of Fig. 1, taken at theouter side of the foot.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken as on line 3-9 of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 9a is a perspective view of the spring unit for removable mountingin the form of Fig. 1.

We happen to have selected and to have disclosed herein as an example ofour invention, a one-piece, seamless, plastic display shoe form of .theso-called'low heel type designed and intended for use in displayingshoes of the low heel classifications or styles. Such'a low heel type ofshoe display form of our invention is characterized generally by thefact that with the form in inserted position in a shoe, the lowerexterior surface of the format the underside of the heel portion thereofeither lies in the same plane whichpasses through the lower surface ofthe form at the under side of the portion thereof representing the ballof a foot, or in a plane spaced a relatively slight distance above theplane at the under side of such ball portion. Our invention, however,isnot limited to such low heel types of shoe display forms but includesand is embodied in forms of thosetypes adapted for displaying shoesin-the so-called medium heel and high heel ranges,'respectively, inwhich the plane of the lower exterior surface-ofa form at the under.side of the heel portion thereof is in a plane spaced at a substantialdistance above the plane of the under exterior surface of the formbeneath theball portion thereof.

The example shoe form F of the low'heel type embodying our invention isillustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, and typifiesthe various other types, styles, classes and sizes of "shoe forms. ofthe invention. The display form F is,,in accordance with our invention,

formed as a one-piece, seamless and hollow plastic structure'havingrelatively thin walls throughout and being resilient so as to .bebendable or compressible laterally, particularly at the ball portion ofthe form, for insertion of the form under at leastslight compressioninto the shoe to'be displayed.- The'shoe form F of the illustratedexample is constructed of a cellulose acetate thermoplastic and is of adesign and construction by which the form may be made by a singleinjection step in injection molding apparatus forming a part of ourinvention and disclosed and described in detail hereinafter. The shoeform F is designed as a relatively accurate replica or reproduction indimensions and in external contours of a human 'foot'and ankle. In thisinstance'we happen to show the form F as a reproductionoi the right footand ankle, and of a size or dimensions such as to be insertable undercompression in shoes of a definite size or limited range of sizes of thestandard system of shoe sizes.

The shoe form F, which is a reproduction in dimensions and contour of aselected size of foot and ankle, comprises the sole portion S, the heelportion H, the ankle portion A, the ball portion B, the instep portion Iand the toe portion T.

The ankle portion of the form F, which is designated generally by thereference character 'A, usually includes a relatively accuratereproduction in contour and dimensions or the ankle at the ankle-Jointand of a portion: of" the ankle above-#thejoint: Suchupper portion oftheankle is designated generally by'the reference character A" and:terminates at its upper, outer end in the completely closed integral,flat top wall I0 which constitutes the' top wall of the shoe form F;

Thewallstructurewhich makes up and constitutes-the hollow shoe formF'includes the outer side wa1l20 which extends from the hack: wall 2|and merges into-and with the wall .22 forming the toe por-tion' T, andthe. inner side wall: 23 which extends rearwardly' from. wall. 22 to andmerges with the back or rear-walla]. These walls are integralzandcontinuous over.- and: around the form and: include thefront wall '25-.which extends upwardly: over and defines the ballcportion B, instepportion 1', and. the front: of; the upper,- ankle. portion A, and whichmerges with theadjacent walls. The side, front and rear walls asaboveidentified, join integrally with the: top wall: Ifl' at: the upper; sideof ankle portion A. Thereis" thus provided. an. unbroken, smooth wallstructure which is without seams or joints: at any locationthereon. Thefront of the form F iscompletely without joints: or. other visible seamforming construction along, the central area thereof from the: tip. ofthe. toe portion of the form. to thetop wall Ill. This is the area ofthe surface of. the formonwhich anyjoint, seams or other. blemishesaremostnoticeable when a. form is in display positionin a. shoe. The.top wall: H) is integral'with the sidewalls 20. and 23, the-front walls22 and 25,. and the rear wall; 2|, which walls join and merge therewith,so that. therev is, no joint or seam around and. between top. wall H3and the walls joinedtherewith. This top wall in accordance with afeature of our invention, presents a plane outer surface'which iscompletely'smooth and without b1emishes, marks or disfiguration of anykind; In the usual display position of the form F in a shoe, this top,closing wall ll of the form is in position completely visible to anobserver so that. any marks 01' blemishes which may =be:visi-b1ethereon: detract materially from the appearance and. displayeffectiveness of the shoe form. The construction of top'wall H3 asanintegral molded component, of the wall structuremaking up: the formisan. important feature of our invention.

The, toe portion which is designated generally by the referencecharacter. T preferablyincludes. longitudinally disposed. toe-forminggrooves i I formed in wall 22 toindicate at least some. ofthe-imiddle-toes I2 of the foot. These toe-forming grooves, H in theexample form F which is for: the right shoe, start with the innermost ofthe grooves. being locatediapproximately along the center line of instepportion 1: to thus form on the wall. 22 of toe portion T a central rib5. The side of'the toe portion T to the; right of; grooves l l.generallysimulates the big toe of the foot. The example shoe form F isprimarily designed for use: in. displaying womens shoesand the mainpurposeof the toe forming grooves H and of locating these.toesimulationsatthemiddle section. of the toe portion T, is. to permitof applying to the simulated toes a suitable-color.- ing to give theappearance of painted toenails. which will be visible with open toeshoesand thus add to the realistic and. artistic appearance of the display.A. transversely disposed groove l6 may be provided in wall. 22-acrossthe grooves H to simulate-toe nails.

The lower, bottom or undersideof thehollow,

thin. walled; shoe form: is open and is sur rounded by:- the; soleportion generally; designated by: the reference character 5.. This soleportion S is. constituted by: an. inturned, transverseh curved flange;30 which extends in this example asacontinuousunbroken flange varying inwidth andin radii of curvature along-different portions of its. lengthat specific: locations around the lower or: bottom sideof the form; Thisflange structure 30 which is integral with the walls of: that-form:constitutesth sole portion S by which the form is supported andmaintained in. inser-ted position. in. a shoe with such. flange 3B;being-engaged? down, on. and against: the usual inner solezofa shoetohezdisplayed.

The rearwardly or outwardly curved or convex heel sectionjl. oft flange30. which extends across and forms-the under or sole portion of heel His: formed as an integral part: and: continuation of. the rear wallv 2iof the form; F.- Thev heel section 3 I: continuesforwardly along-andintegral with. the outer and. inner: side walls 20 and 23;

as integral portions of thesewalls to provide theinner: side flange.section. 32 and the outer; side flange section; 33. Flange sections: 32and. 33: areof the; upperankle; section A", while. the inner sidesection 32-. extends'a. distancev forwardly to terminateapproximatelyat. the rear of the ballport-ionB'.v The-flange sections132and'33 are-continuedforwardly along-the inner and outer sides of theshoe form, as flange sections 34. and 35- which extend: to, thetip. ofthe toe portion T where. they join into. and form the curved section 36,across the outer end or" tipof the wall 22 which. forms the toe portionT. The flange sections 34,. 35 and 36-are of less width than the widthof the: sections, 32: and: 33 and are-formed from. and integral with theopposite side walls 20 and 2-3 andaround the, curved tip of wall. 23 at.an angle of. approximately 90? to the general planeof. such walls, sothat, the under side of theseeflanges, provide a. generally flat seatingstirface at; the, under side. ofthe toe portion T and ball. portion B.ofthe shoe form F. The edge portion formed between flange sections 36,35 and. 36 and the walls with which such sections are integral is,preferably formedwith the outer surface: transversely rounded, aswillheclear by reference tothe drawings.

The display shoe form. F designed andv constructed as hereinabovedescribed to. provide making for lightness and resiliency whil retainingthe requisite structural strength due to the construction of the formand its one-piece, seamless character. Preferably, as in. theexample-hereof, the wall thickness may be reduced tothe; order of .05 ofanv inch along the. area which, joins the 'major walls of the form withthe-continuous flange 30 around the openunder on bottom. Side'of theform. In this instance, the widths: offlange: sections 34-, 35 and 36may be taken to be approximately ofan inch, while the: width of thesections 31-, 32 and 33 may be-takeni to: be, approximatelyinch from and36V Due to the one-piece, seamless construction of the shoe, form F, itis possible to provide the form with the continuous-flange 38 around theopen'under or bottom side-thereof, as of relatively narrow maximumwidths which is a substantial advantage in the molding of the form, asWell as to the inherent resiliency and light weight of the form.

The shoe form F thus constructed is capable of being compressedlaterally, particularly across the ball portion 33 thereof, by applyingpressures acting inwardly at the opposite sides of such portion to thusbend the side portions slightly inwardly toward each other to reduce theWidth of the ball portion and place the same under compression. Thisbending or compressing action takes place when the form is inserted in ashoe of the range of sizes for which the particular form is designed anddimensioned. However, experience has demonstrated that with a plasticform,'after a period of use under the heat conditions to which suchforms are usually subjected, the form has a tendency tto collapse to theshape of the shoe in which it has been inserted and to remain in suchcollapsed shape when removed from the shoe. When this occurs the formthus loses its originally molded shape and thereafter Will not providethe proper fit for effective display of shoes of the sizes for which theform Was designed.

We have provided for overcoming the tendency of a plastic shoe form tofail to restore to originally molded shape after compression thereof ina shoe, through the medium of an auxiliary or booster spring unit foraugmenting the inherent resiliency of the form that normally reacts torestore the form from compressed condition. In the particular examplehereof such spring means takes the form of an expansion spring unit 40preferably formed of spring wire having an external diameter not toexceed.

the width of flange sections 34, and 33. The spring unit 43 is bent intoa general U-shape to conform to the shape and general contour presentedby the inner surfaces of wall 22 around and surrounding the flangesections 34, 35 and 33. In the form of the spring unit of this example,the unit comprises a short leg 4| and a longer leg 42 connected andjoined by a curved base or head 43. This spring unit 43 is adapted to bemounted in position at and around the inner sides of the flange sections33, 34 and 35, with the curved head 43 thereof engaged under the flange35 and extending around and con forming to thecurvature of the innersurface of the tip of the wall 22 which providesthe toe portion T.

In order to retain the spring unit 4!] in mounted, assembled positionagainst inadvertent displacement, we have molded integrally with theform at opposite side locations on the interior thereof, the lugs orribs 44 and 45. Rib 44 is located in generally vertically disposedposition at or adjacent the inner end of the outer section 33 of flange30. Rib 44 extends inwardly from the inner side of the outer side wall23 immediately adjacent to the flange section 33, being in thisparticular example joined with" the flange section. Rib 45 is located invertically disposed position at or adjacent the inner end of the innerside flange section 32, and extends inwardly from the inner side of theinner side wall 23 immediatelyadjacent the flange section 32. Rib 45 isextended to and joins flange section 32, in this instance. Rib 44 islocated inwardly from the tip of the toe portion T a greater distancethan the spacing inwardly of rib 45 from such tip. The greater spacinginwardly of rib 44 is to accommodate the long leg 42 of spring unit 40in mounted position at that unit.

The spring unit 40 may be readily inserted and snapped into assembledposition in the shoe form'with the end of long leg 42 engaged andabutting against the forward side of rib 44 and the end of the short leg4| being engaged and abutting against the rib 44. Preferably the springunit 40 is placed under at least slight compression at its inner freeends when in assembled position, if only to assist in retaining the unitagainst inadvertent displacement. However, if desired, the legs of thespring unit may be spread a sufficient distance apart to place the unitunder substantial compression when in seated, assembled position. It isto be particularly notedthat when in assembled position in a shoe formF, the spring unit 48 is located completely over and around flangesections 33, 34 and 35, with such sections andth'e wall 22 of the toeportion T forming a'housing for the unit. In'this manner the spring unitis maintained against displacement and is positioned against interferingengagement with either the hand or fingers in inserting and removing theshoe form into and from a shoe, or with structure of the shoe duringsuch operations.

We have thus provided as a new article of manufacture, a one-piecehollow, thin walled and resilient plastic shoe form which is withoutseams or joints. Because of. such one-piece, seamless construction theshoe form lends itself to production in clear, transparent andcolorlessfplas' tic, or to various colors and shades thereof oftransparent or semi-transparent character. However, due to the designand construction of the shoe form F, and particularly to the fact thatthe width and length dimensions of the opening surrounded by the inneredge of the continuous flange 33, are less at every location thereon,than the width and length dimensions of the interior of the formimmediately adjacent such flange, the molding of such form presentscertain serious and diflicult problems. We have overcome these problemsby the design, construction and functioning of an injection moldingapparatus which forms a part of our present invention and which isdescribed and explained in detail hereinafter.

It will also be evident that various other changes, variouseliminations, substitutions and additions may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the broad spirit and scope of our invention and, hence,we do not desire or intend to limit our invention in all respects to theparticular example thereof herein disclosed'cxcept as may be required byintended limitations thereto appearing in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe display form comprised of aone-piece, thin-walled, seamless hollow body structure molded from athermoplastic material; said body structure providing a foot portionincluding a toe portion and a heel portion; said body structure beingclosed at the top side thereof by a wall integral therewith and disposedtransversely thereacross in continuous integral jointure with said bodystructure; said body structure being open at the bottom side thereof andbeing formed with an inturned flange integral therewith and extendedaround the open bottom side thereof; and said flange around the heelportion of said body structure being curved inwardly on a radius ofcurvature greater than-the radius of curvature of said inturned flangearound said toe portion.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe display form comprised of aone-piece, thin-walled, seamless hollow body structure molded from athermoplastic material; said body structure providing a foot portionincluding a toe portion, a heel portion and an intermediate portiontherebetween; said body structure being closed at the top side thereofby a wall integral therewith and disposed transversely thereacross; saidbody structure being open at the bottom side thereof and being formedwith an inturned, seamless flange integral therewith and extended aroundsaid open bottom side; said flange around the heel portion and along theopposite sides of said intermediate portion of said body structure beingcurved inwardly on a radius of curvature greater than the radius ofcurvature of said inturned flange around and along the opposite sides ofsaid toe portion; the inturned flange along one side of said toe portionbeing of greater length than the portion of said flange along theopposite side of the toe portion; and the flange portions along oppositesides of the toe portion joining and merging uninterruptedly into andintegrally with the adjacent ends of the portions of the flange atopposite sides of the intermediate portion of said body structure.

' STANLEY NET'ILER.

MARIO MACCAFERRI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Fairy Forms Catalog No. 62 (copyin Division 11).

